Serena Williams on Potential Singles Return: 'It's Not Important'

Serena Williams' Return to Tennis

Serena Williams has said her professional tennis return at the age of 44 is about “just having fun,” insisting winning is “not important” after lifting 23 grand slam singles titles during a hugely successful career.

Details of Her Return

Williams will play doubles alongside the Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club this week in her first competitive outing since stepping away from tennis in 2022. Although she has committed to playing doubles in Berlin afterwards, her future beyond that remains uncertain.

Motivation for Returning

On her motivation for returning to elite sport after so long out, Williams said: “I don’t need to win. I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so for me it’s not important to me. It’s important that I keep reminding myself of that because I don’t have anything to prove, I don’t have anything to lose and everything here is just a gain.

Partnership with Victoria Mboko

Williams added that she selected Mboko because the teenager “reminded me a lot of myself”. Mboko, who was only 10 when Williams won her last grand slam, said: “Growing up, Serena has always been my idol.”

Reaction from Other Players

Emma Raducanu, the reigning US Open champion, also commented on Williams' return, saying: “It’s really great to see her back. I think it’s an amazing inspiration and for all of us to see her around is a really cool thing. She’s the greatest female tennis player of all time.”